Mischief Managed
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2005
- Messages
- 1,928
I was planning to add foot switches to my windlass so that I could operate it from the bow. After thinking about it, it dawned on me that it would involve a lot of expensive and time-consuming wiring and 40+ bucks worth of foot switches. I started thinking about alternatives and did a little search on ebay for 2 channel 12V remote controls. I ended up buying a 433 MHz 2 channel transmitter (key fob) and receiver for 9 bucks, including shipping. I also bought a pair of 12V 30A DPDT power relays for another 9 bucks.
I mounted the receiver and relays to a scrap piece of marine plastic board and wired them up in about an hour. The wired connections to the existing windlass switch at my helm required just 2 female spade terminals and 2 female/male piggy-back spade terminals. Installation took maybe 15 minutes, probably less. So for around 25 bucks in parts and wiring I can now control my windlass from anywhere within roughly 100 feet from my boat.
It's great for setting the rear anchor at sandbars,I can drop the bow anchor from the helm, get it set, shut the engine off, hop in the lake with the key fob and stern anchor (bitter-end tied to the boat) and if-needed, adjust the length of the bow anchor rode with ease, while in the water.
I'm eager to use it for Mediterranean mooring off the end of a public dock when side-to dock space is not available. I can get the anchor set, back to the end of the dock, loosely cross-tie two stern lines to the dock, get everyone off the boat while it's near the dock, and use the remote to tighten up the anchor rode so that the boat can't touch the dock. When it's time to re-board, I can simply release some rode and pull the boat back to the dock.
I mounted the receiver and relays to a scrap piece of marine plastic board and wired them up in about an hour. The wired connections to the existing windlass switch at my helm required just 2 female spade terminals and 2 female/male piggy-back spade terminals. Installation took maybe 15 minutes, probably less. So for around 25 bucks in parts and wiring I can now control my windlass from anywhere within roughly 100 feet from my boat.
It's great for setting the rear anchor at sandbars,I can drop the bow anchor from the helm, get it set, shut the engine off, hop in the lake with the key fob and stern anchor (bitter-end tied to the boat) and if-needed, adjust the length of the bow anchor rode with ease, while in the water.
I'm eager to use it for Mediterranean mooring off the end of a public dock when side-to dock space is not available. I can get the anchor set, back to the end of the dock, loosely cross-tie two stern lines to the dock, get everyone off the boat while it's near the dock, and use the remote to tighten up the anchor rode so that the boat can't touch the dock. When it's time to re-board, I can simply release some rode and pull the boat back to the dock.
